Flushing apparatus



Feb. 28, 1928.

P. HAAS FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m /Mf v vz, 2

m t n e v M ad Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

' UNITED STATES" PHILIP Hanson DAYToN, onlog KATIE` Hans HENRY e. an.,ExEeUi'rmx" AND'ExncU'ronoFsaIn PHILIPHAAS, DEcEAsnD.

Application inea May io,`

My invention consists -in the novelf'features `hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show one form inwhich I have contemplated embodying my invention and a slight modi`ticationthereof, vand saidinvention is fully disclosed inthe followingdescription `and claims.

The object of my invention is to` providea iushing tank andflushing`valve mechanismi therefor ot extremely simpleconstructiomin which thesupporting means of thevalve operating mechanism is formed as a part ofthe tank and preferably of porcelain or earth! enware,1the apparatusbeing so simple that, the parts can be shipped to the point of use withthe flushing tank and placed in operative position by anyone without theuse ofl tools, and Without the necessity of calling'in skilled labor. t,

My invention also consists in the novel 'features of' construction andcombination of parts hereinafter fully described andpartic-` ularlypointed out in the claims.

Referringtothefdrawings, A 1

Fig. l. is a sectional .Viewy of the flushing tank and `flushingmechanism therefor en bodying my invention.

Figa@ is a top plan View of the same with the cover removed.` 1

Fig. 3 isfa vertical transverse sectional vview through thetank. y f

Fig. 4- an enlarged sectional i vievvr of fa@V portionot thetankfshowing the means forn supporting the rock shaft ofthe valveopfyvrating mechanism, and holding it inopera'" tivelpositioii. i "Y Fig. 5represents'a horizontal sectional view` on the line toit Fig. L4. i'

Fig'. 6 is a vertical sectional'I view of the linger piece" forming partfofthe valve ope rating mechanisin. y M

Fig. 7 is ahorizontalsectional viert7 on line 7-7ot Fig. 6. Fig". S is arear elevation of the `finger piece Witli'vtlie operating armshown insection.

Fig. 9 isy a )detail perspective view illusi' tratinga slightlydifferent form ofsupportfor the rock shaft and-a different form ofretainingmeans therefor. y f

In the ordinary llusliing tank now almostentirely madeof porcelainflorearthenware, it is custon'iary to providefan aperture a lateral Wall,generally the front wall, for the shaft ot an operating device act`resents the lfushin valve which is preferab hollow, closed at itsuppereiid and. openat n fits lower end, and provided with curved or19a?. semi No. raam.

ingupon aslever supportedwithin the tank and `connected with theflushingvalve. This necessltates the@ use of aV bearing sleeve in theaperture, means for supporting the lever Within the tank, and requires askilled operator to .assemble the parts and place themA in operatlverelation andadjustment."

*Incarrying out my present"inventionl lprovide the tank "indicated at 1,formed pref` erably of porcelain or earthenvvare, With an1 aperture, 2,`in its front wall, which is sli ht-` ly elongated vertically, and `hasits e ges rounded as indicated at 3. On the inner tace of the frontvvall Joff the tank, Ifprovide a longitudinallydisposed bracket`indicated at 4, `which is'preferably formed'integrally, that istofsay`in "one piece with the front wall`,` and Ais provided 'on its upper facewith a longitudinalrecess", 5, having its bottom, 6, inclined forwardly`and downwardly toward the front Wall vot' the tank. This bracket is solocated that thebottoni, 6, of the recess is in substantial alinmentlwith the center of the aperture, 2, an is dis osed between saidaperture and the longitu inal center ofthe front n'all." The outerlongitudinal iange of the bracket "isfpreferably eiitendednpwardly atthe end of the bracket rem'oteifrom lso the aperture,` 2', asindicatedat 4, and the inner faceof saidvvall isprovided with a. curvedtaperinglrecess, 4", as lindicated in Figs. 4" and "5, toreceivefaretaining plug or Wedge,6, Whichispreferably of compressible material ascorkfrubber or Wood, which "may be gently pressed into the space betweeni saidr'ecess, 4., andthe front Wall of the tank, as indicated in thesaid Figs. 4 and 5. The' tank is'pro-vided `'at the bottom with theA lusual centrally locatedaperture, 7, in" which is secured a threadedsleeve,"8, having a `flange, `9, at its upperend, engaging a shoul` der,10, held in place by the usual nut, 11, said fitting being providedwitha valve seat, `which is preferably formedof nonicorrodi` ble material,and is lindicatedat` 12. 13 rep substantially spherical seatengagingp`or`V tions indicated at '14. The upper end of the" valve isprovided `vvitlr an aperture having"a` ,flange or collar, 115. Thevalveis preferably "joint therewith.l 16is" a" vertical hollow 110x valvestemmand overflow pipe, which preferably Iformed of`celluloid or othersuitable material, whi'eh'is strong and light and not eliected by thewater, and the saidt'ubul'ar stem,16, ispassed" through the collar,155,'z'1nilV disposed' holes inthe lower end I of the hollow valvestein, 'andr vpassing-"a wire'therethrough, one end of whichjis securedas at 17, by bending it aroundthe lower edge of the tube, the other endof the wirebeingbent downwardlyatthe other side of the tube andupwar'dlytoi-form a loop, as indicatedin Fig. 1 for example. This is avery simpleand inexpensive 'way ofi. providing the valve stem with a dependingdevice which 'holds the valve substantially in axial alignment with thevalve seat during its vertical movements, an'dpreveuts it fromfswingingout of alignment witli'the seat. The. upper end of the valve stem,16,"is provided with an attaching device which ispreferablyfin the form'ofahook,for attaching itto the valve: operating mechanism. This hookpreterably appliedby forming apertures the opposite sides of the valvestem, 16, and pas-sing Va piece of wire therethrough, one end of whichissecured bending itdownward around the upper edgeofthe valve stem,whilethe other end/is bent upwardly and downwardly to form thehookindicated at 19. The valve/actuating mechanism comprises a rock shaft,l20,-provid'ed at one end withA a lifting lever, 21, and; atthe oppositeend withan operating arm, 22. VThis de- 4vice is preferably formed ofone piece of metal rod, :preferably brass or other y'suitable'metal, andthe outer end of the lifting arm,I 21, is provided with an 'aperture oreye,to engage the hook, V19, of the valve stem. The rockshaft,`20, isadaptedvto lbe supported in the bearing bracket, 4, and lies in thegroove or recess, A,5, 'thereof, being supported by the inclined bottom,6, ofthe groove or recess, which tends toforee it toward the front wallof the tank. -rIfhe outer endof the operating arm, 22, exten-ds throughthe aperture, 2, inthe front wall of the tank, and vprovided eXteriorlywith a finger piece, 23, which is-alsvo formedpreferably of porcelain soas to present a harmonious and pleasing appearance. The innerftace` ofthe finger piece is provided with Ia recess, 2l, and asmallerrecess, 25,which also opens through thefbottomof the linger piece, the two recessesbeing cennected by'a narrow slot, ,26, formingl oppositely disposedshouldersf-QT and l28, as clearly shownin F ig. 8

for'eaniple. The upper recess, 241, is also with a recess, 29, in itsrear wall, f having its lower portronin substantial align-VV 'ment'withvthe shoulder, 27, to receive the lend portion of the operating armwhich is deta'chablyand adjustably secured thereto in any desiredmanner. In the present instanc'e and'for economy, l find it convenientto connect the linger piece to the operating armjby means of anIordinary stove belt, in-V dicated at 30, Iprovided with a nut, 31, en'-`gaging the upper face ofthe. operating arm,

22, and having its head, 32,"located in the lowerrecess, 25, andprovided with a washer, 83, preferably.inserted between the head of thebolt and the shoulders, 27 and 28,'of the porcelain linger piece. Bythis means the 'porcelain finger piece can-readily be secured to themetal operating arm without danger of breaking the porcelain and in amanner y which permits the porcelain finger piece to be lreadily molded,while lthe retaining means, to wit, the stove bolt and nut` are entirelyconcealed. The portion of theY operating arm between the rear face ofthe linger piece andv the rock Shaft which extends through the aperture,2, inthe front wall "of the tank, is preferably,provided with a tubularbumper indicated atfll, and

vpreferablyformed from apiece offrubber tubing for the purposeotproviding an elastic or cushioning material'between the operating armand the edges the aperture, 2, to prevent noise in the operation ofthedevice.

In assembling the valve operating means, it will be seen that theoperating arm, rock shaft and valve lifting arm, which 'as before statedare preferably formed of one piece of stock, (preferably round brassrod) vcan-be -inserted through the aperture,-2, by irst'in serting thevalve lifting farm, 22, therethrough from' t-,he outside, and then vpassing the rock shaftthrough. the aperture, Y2, and thenfvpassing theoperating arm through said aperture and bringing the rocksliaft closeagainst the inner'face of the frontwallof the tank and inserting itini-the longitudinal rreeess,5, therein, after which the retainingwedge, Y6, (which may bean ordinary cork or rubber stopper, for example)is pressed into j 'position between the front wall of theitank 4and therecess, 4b, as clearly shown. in Figs.

2, 4 and 5where it will be retained by friction and will hold the rockshaft against accidental'displacement. Thehook, 19, at the upper end `ofthe valve stem, 16, is then engaged with an aperture, 21, as indicatedin `Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the valvebeing placed in engagement with the valveseat.

The tank, 1, is provided with any suitable vvmeans `for supplying waterand 'maintaining a predetermined level thereof, which may be of anydesiredch'aracter. have'shown an weones inlet pipe, 40 (Fig.``l);supported` by a filling, 41, inthe bottom of the tank and providedat its upper end with an inlet valve, 42, float lever, 43, and float,44, and a` discharge pipe,

45, surrounding the inlet pipe and discharg-` ing adjacent `to thebottom `ofthe tank, but these devices form no part of my present in-`vention and will not bej more `particularly described. i

In FigJS), I have shown slightly 1modified v fforin t of bearing bracketvand retainingmeans `extending projection, 104, and Valmetal clip,

107, 'is slipped over this portion of `the i bracket having t a portion,107, `extending over the recess,`106, and rock shaft,f120,`and ashoulder, 107 to 'engage the bearing recess, 106, as shown, to preventthe accidental displacement ofthe rock shaft. f t It will be seen thatmy improved4 flushing valve mechanism can be manufactured cheaply, 'andis ofgsueh 'sin'iple `construction that anyone can `assemble it. Whenthe parts are placed inoperative position, the rock shaft willbeheldfrom endwise movement bythe engagement ofthe operating arm in theaperture, 2, and will be held in the bearing bracket by the retainingmeans described.

`assuming that the tank is filled tothe predetern'iined water ,level a`flushing operation maybe produced by simpl depressing the finger piece,23,' thisy willdsiipress the outer;

4end of the' operatinga rm, 22 and rock the shaft, 20, raising the outerend of the lifting arm, 2 1, and raisingthe valve, 13. The water in lthetank will immediately begin to run outl and the hollow valve beingfilled with air will remain suspended in the Water, sovlong` asitisinnnersed therein, being'alsopartly counterbalancedfby the porcelainfinger piece, `soon as thewater level is below the valve, andthe waterno longer supports it the weight of the valve and its ,stem Will `causethe valve to again engage its seat. VThe parts are so constructedhowever that the seat is not `fully closed'until a suflicient'amount of`"watercollects inthe tank to pressdown on thelvalve and force it intoengagementvwith the seat, and previousto its final seatingia smallamountof water will yseep throughbetween the valve Aandits seat,`providing an afterfilh As soon as the tank is substantially` full, the`pressureof water on the valve `will holditiclosed andrnomore, waterwill pass through thefoutlet. 'Y i V I prefer to form the rock shaft inonev ieee. withtheioperating arm and valve lifting arm, as itemakesavery cheap and `eilioient devicewhich caneasily be inserted through theaperture, 2, and it will also begunderstood that in case `of slightvariations in thewposi-` tion of Athe axis, of "the flushing valve seat,due` toirregularities in the porcelain` or, earthenware, the valvelifting arm can readily bent in one direction orthe other to bring itsonter end in alignment with the axisgofthe valveseat, t t

The tank, 1, is also provided with the usual cover, also ofrporcelainorearthenware,as indicated atO, inFigs. l and 2; i

WhatIfelaim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: im j 1, In aflushing mechanism, `the combination with a. tank having a wall providedwith anitaperture therein, .1 a horizontal` bearing bracket on the innerface of thewall pro` vided with a longitudinal bearing recess insubstantial alignment with said `aperfy ture,` and -a flushing valveseat in the bottom of the tank, of` a valve engaging seat, a rock shaftengaging said l'iearing;A

recess,` and provided at one end av ith a valve lifting arm, and at theother end with an oppositely` extending operating arm projectingoutwardly through said aperture, the t engagement of said operating armwith the walls of said aperture holding the rock shaft againstlongitudinal movements,and i connections from said `liftil flushingvalve.

1g arm to the` 2. In a flushing mechanism, the combina- ,t

tion with a tank having a wall provided with an aperture therein, ahorizontal beaif ing bracket on `the inner face of the Walla` providedy,with a longitudinal bearingV re- `cessin substantial alignment withsaid aperi ture, and` a flushing valve seat inthe boltom ofthe tank, ofa valve engaging seat, a rock sha-ft engaging vsaid bearing recess,andprovidedat one end with avalve litting arm, Vand atthe other end withanoppositely extending operating arm projectiiig outwardlythrough saidaperture, `the .engagement of said operating; arm with the walls of saidaperture holding the rock shaft against` longitudinal movements, andcon` nections from said lifting arm to the flu-slr ing valve, alfingerpiece of greater diameter t thanl said aperture secured tosaid operatingarm, lsaidi'ock shaft, operating arnrand lifting arm being formedofjoneexpiece lof metal of a diameter less than that. otsaid aperture,and adapted to be introduced intoA operative position` by inserting saidpartsl through said aperture and dropping the rock shaft intosaidbearing recess. 1 i 3; In aflushing mechanism, the combina?tioniwith' a tank having a wall provided with anaperture therein, ahorizontalbearing `bracket on the inner face ofv the 1walls providedwith a; longitudlnal@bearing re` cess 1n` substantial `alignment withsaidA aper-1 lll ture, and =a rflushing valve seat -in the bot tom ofthe tank, of a valvevengaging seat, a rock shaft 'engaging said bearingrecess, and provided'at onerend with avalve lifting arm, and atthe-other end with an oppositely Vextending operating arm projectingoutture, and -aflusliing valve seat in the bottom of 'theftanln of'avalve engagingfseat,

`a rock shaft engaging said bearing recess,

and provided yat one end with-"a valve "lifting arm, and at theotherendwith 'an oppositely extending operating arm projecting outwardlythrough saidaperture, -the *engagement of said -operatingfarm with thewalls ofl saidE aperture holding` the rock shaft against longitudinalmovements, and connections from said lifting armiI to theushing valve,and a wedge retaining dei'icefadaptcd to be inserted between portions'of Avsaid bracket and the wallof thetank, 'above said shaftto hold saidshaft against-accidental displacement. f

5. In a flushing mechanism, the combination With a vtank having awall"provide' ;l with an aperture therei`n,' aY horizontal -bearingbracket'on theinner "faeefof the llwall provided with a longitudinalbearing recess in substantial alignment with said aperture, and-aliu-Shing valve seatinthef-"bottoin of the tank,'of avalve'engagingfseat, a-ro'ck shaft engaging 'said bearing ret-ess, andprovidedat one end with a valve lifting arm, andv at the other' end'withan `oppsitelyfexn tending operating arfm projecting outwardly throughsaid aperture,thefengagemet of said operating arm witht'he walls of:said aperture holding therock shaft-against longitudinal movements, andconnectionsfrom said liftingarm to the flushing valve,` said tank beingformed of earthenwarefand having the said bracket formed integrallytherex'vith, said bracket being provided with a'portion extendingabovethe bearing recess, and having the face ythereof' adjacent to nthe innerface of the adjacent tankwall' provided'v with a recess-of graduallydecreasing depth,v and a wedge-retaining device of veompressiblematerial adapted' to be inserted between's'aid recess and the tank'wallto confine the'rock Shaft in the said bearing recess.

"56. -In a flushing inechanismth'e combination'with a tank having a wallprovided witln anaperture therein, a horizontal 'bearing A'bracket onthe inner face of the wall provided with a longitudinalbearing recess insubstantial alignment with said aperture, an'd aflushing valve seatinthe' bottom offthetanl-, of a valve engaging seat, arock shaftengaging said bcaringrecess, andfprovided at one-end with a vvalveliftingarm, and ait-'the other end withanoppositelyextending operatingarmprojecting outwardly through said "aperture, the engagement "of saidoperating arm 'withlthe walls of said aperture holding the rockv shaftagainst longitudinal movements, j and 'connections from/saidlifting armvto the iushingvalve,

said tan-kbeingj formed ofearthenwzire andV` said bracket-being formedintegrallytl'iere'- with, said bracket having a portion remote from" the"said tank wallf aperture extending above vthe said bearing recessandh'aving its face: adjacent to thetank i yall,` and provided a Y lwith aurecess having a `curved bottomand of graiflually-decreasingdepth, and atap'erfA ing wedge plug of compressible-'material adapted tobe inserted between 'said 'recess and'tlietanl \vall, abovesaidsliaft toprevent the vaccid'en tal displ'acementof the shaft'.

7. VIn a iiushing niechanism,the c'ombinatio'n'with vatank having a wallprovided with an aperture therein, a horizont-al bearing brackcton theinner 'face of the wall provided with a f longitudinal bearing 1 recess'i in substantial alignment with 'said aperture, and aflushing valveseat'inthe'bottom ofthe tank, of a valve'engaging seat, a rock shaftengaging said bearing recess, and providedat one end with a valvelifting arm, and at the other 'end'with an oppositely ertending" operating arm project-ing outwardly through' said aperture, the engagementof'said'operating -arm with thewalls of said aperture holding the f rockshaft against 'longitudinal Vmovements, and connections from 'sai'dlifting arm `to4the flushing valve, said operating armbe- `ing"prov1dedwith a linger piece 'provided with a recess'to engage the outer end lofsaid arm, and means 'for detachably Vsecuring =said iinger Ipiece tosaid. arm, sa'idfmean's permitting sai'd'tin'ger piece't'obe adjustedlongitudinally of' said arm.

8. In a flushing mechanism,vthelcombina# Ation with a tank having a wallprovided with 1an aperture therein, a horizontal'bearing bracket on theAinner face of `the wallp'rovided with a longitudinalbearing'recesswinsubstantial 4alignment with said aperture,

and a' flushing valveseat in the bottom of the l tank, 'ofv a valveengaging-seat, a'rock' shaft los engaging said bearing recess, "and,provided' at one end with 'a"valve'lifting arm, andai;

the other end with an oppos'itelyextending ope' "ating arm projectingoutwardly through :said aperture, the engagementbtsaid op? 9. In aflushing mechanism, the `combina-` tionwith a tank having a ival'lprovided with an aperture therein, a horizontal bearing bracket on theinner face of the Wall provided with a. longitudinal bearing recess insubstantial alignment with said aperture, and a flushing valve seat inthe bottom of the tank, of a valve engaging seat, a rock shaIt engagingsaid bearing recess, and provided at one end with a valve lifting arm,and at the other end with an oppositely extending operating armprojecting outwardly through said aperture, the engagement of Saidoperating arm With the walls of said aperture holding the rock n shaftagainst longitudinal movements, and connections from said lifting arm tothe flushing valve, said tank and bearing b 'ac-liet being formed in onepiece of earthenvvare said operating arm being provided with a fingerpiece pro vided with a recessto engage the outer end of said operatingarm, and having itsinner face provided with recessed portions toaccommodate a bolt and `nut for clamping said operating arm in adjustedposition to said linger piece. Y i l0. In a flushing mechanism. thecombination with a. flushing tank of earthenware having its iront wallprovided with a vertically elongated aperture, and the inner face ofsaid wall provided with an integral bearing bracket provided with ahorizontal recess on its upper face in substantial alignment with saidaperture, said tank having its bottom provided with a liushing valveseat and valve for engaging said bearing recess, of a rock shaftprovided at one end with an operating arm for engaging said aperture,and at the other end with a valve lifting arm extendingA above the axisofthe valve seat, said rock shaft and arms being formed of one piece ofmetal of a diameter permitting said parts to be inserted. through saidaperture, said bracket having a horizontally groovedl portion above thesaid recess adjacent to the front Wall of the tank, a compressible Wedgeplug, adapted to be inserted between said grooved portion of the bracketand the tank wall to hold the said shaft in the bearing recess, anearthenware finger piece detachably secured to the operating armout-side of the tank, said arm being provided with a tubular bumperWithin said aperture, and connecting means for detachably connectingsaid valve lifting arm with the flushing valve.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

PHILIP HAAS.

